The Learning Geeks Podcast

Summer is almost over - which means we are back with a new season of the Learning Geeks. Jake shares a preview of what you can expect in the upcoming season which premiers on August 16th. CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN, Twitter (@bobbyhollywood), or email our show at learninggeekspod@gmail.com . DISCLAIMER All thoughts...

Simon Allardice, full-time author at Pluralsight, is a master at teaching through video. Simon is known for teaching technical training but approaches the medium much differently than what you typically expect. Simon shares his teaching and recording process and explains ways in which you can develop in this art form to effectively educate and entertain your audience. CONNECT WITH US If you have a...

It's been awhile, but with so many things happening in the Star Wars universe, we have a lot to talk about! In this aftershow, we discuss why the Obi-Wan Kenobi series is a better show than the Book of Boba Fett. CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN, Twitter (@bobbyhollywood), or email our show at learninggeekspod@gmail.com ....

Krista Taylor, Immersive Learning Lead at Accenture, joins the show to discuss the Metaverse and its current and potential impact on learning. Krista and Bob break it down for us, including why it’s here to stay, implications on learning, case examples, why content and design matter, and what it’s not good for. Dana also shares the best Dad joke of all time… CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedbac...

Mike Vaughan, Managing Director and CEO at The Regis Company, joins the show to discuss how to make the process of learning more impactful by engaging the brain more effectively. Mike shares his expertise in the L&D field and passion in researching and applying cognitive and neuroscience. We then specifically discuss why science is difficult to apply both as a learner and professional, your brain...

It's happening! We are officially running our special Learning Geeks Field Trip at Galaxy's Edge, in Disneyland California on June 24th, 2022! In this bonus episode, we share the logistics, a little on what we will do, how you can stay informed, and more! Please reach out to Dana, Jake, and/or Bob directly or on LinkedIN for any questions. Visit https://tinyurl.com/galaxygeek to let us know of you...

Tessa Forshaw, co-founder of Harvard University’s Next Level Lab joins the show to discuss how to bring learning sciences to life. This is a goal of the Next Level Lab, specifically in workforce development and workforce career readiness. Tessa shares five focus areas and we dive into each including transfer, adaptive expertise, intelligence augmentation, agency, and disposition. We also discuss c...

How often do you learn without a curriculum? Are you a foraging learner who is skilled on finding what and how you need to learn? That is what we are talking about on this episode with special guest, Harrison Gerard. Harrison, Jake, Bob, and Dana each share their stories on how they are learning today without a curriculum, how they embrace the challenge, how they develop feedback loops, and more....

Learning designer, Suzy Robertson, from McKinsey & Company, joins the show to share insights from her research on learner agency and why it was a major predictor of success for organizations and institutions during the pandemic. We also discuss how to empower agency, why establishing trust is so important, promoting inclusive social structures, moving away from our reliance on collision moments, a...

Global Onboarding Lead at Accenture, Katy Geraghty, joins the show to discuss what it takes create an unforgettable onboarding experience. Katy first defines onboarding then shares the importance of making a good impression, making it immersive, and sustaining onboarding throughout first year. We go in depth on Accenture’s use of Virtual Reality in their onboarding experience and how to incorporat...

Composer and music director Kurt Heinecke joins the show to discuss the power and magic of music in learning. Kurt has spent most of his profession creating music for people to learn from. Kurt shares his work and experiences as a music director on Veggie Tales which is an animated show to entertain and teach lessons for kids, but also for families. We discuss why music can be a powerful learning...

It is our yearly, end-of-year tradition to share the lessons we have learned, relearned, or improved upon from the past year. This year, Jake has a lesson on people development, Bob has a lesson on VR, and Dana has a lesson on personal connection and criticality of basics in our profession. LEARNING GEEKS “EXPERIENCE DESIGN WORKSHOP AT DISNEYLAND” We are seeking interested participants to join us...

On today’s episode, we are joined by Susan Franzen, VP of Strategy for Axiom Learning Solution, to discuss Nudge Theory – which is a shift in our thinking and environment that causes us to make better choices. Susan goes into detail on what it is, why it’s useful for learning and yourself, why it should not be used to manipulate, the role of cognitive artifacts, and best practices for your learnin...

We've talked a lot about the other 'ships' of learning, including mentorships and apprenticeships, but have yet to explore internships. We're joined by Jackson Gerard and Arya Bedi who have taken up an internship within L&D. While sharing their experiences, the learning techniques used by both are an inspiring lesson on how to apply the same tactics within our current roles, regardless of tenure....

When you hear assessments, you may think of that bad college exam or immediately stress at being judged, however, assessments can be essential for the learning process when used responsibly. John Kessler, Certification and Assessment Lead at Accenture, joins the show to discuss responsible assessments, what it means, the various ways to assess (e.g., learning checks, cognitive abilities, personali...

Was Master Yoda wrong this entire time? Can you really unlearn what you have learned? We discuss this very question with special guest Clare Norman, Professional Certified Coach. We discuss the science of unlearning, why it’s something you can’t do, how you recognize that the old way of thinking is no longer useful, and how you have the courage to develop the new learning. MORE ABOUT CLARE NORMAN...

Joe Pine, co-author of “The Experience Economy” and co-founder of Strategic Horizons, joins the show to discuss the importance of Learning and Development and the role in employee experiences. In our chat with Joe, he explains the definition of experience, what L&D gets wrong with employee experiences, how the pandemic has impacted the types of experiences we expect, and more. MORE ABOUT JOE PINE...

Alexandria Clapp, content manager for Learning Technologies and Sciences at ATD, joins the show to share her top trends across the L&D and Talent industry. We discuss the meaning and potential impact for the industry and ways we can become catalysts for these trends. CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN, Twitter (@bobbyhollyw...

On a beautiful spring afternoon, each of us came into the show with a topic to discuss for our version of an NPR open table discussion. Bob shares his return to Galaxy’s Edge and how it relates to immersive play. Dana and Bob share the story of Brain hacks and how we can teach our friends and family how to use them. And Jake shares why he feels privileged to be in this profession and why it has cr...

Chief Learning Evangelist Bob Mosher joins the show to discuss the importance of bringing learning closer to work and how L&D can bring the most impact to the learner. Bob breaks down the 5 Moments of Needs, defining the meaning of ‘apply’, tips on finding the best subject matter expert, how to get started, and much more. CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversat...

What was once old is new again – which is why we are discussing Cognitive Apprenticeship with Lisa Christensen, Director of Learning and Development at McKinsey & Company. Jake and Lisa completed a study last year to learn how Covid-19 has impacted learning through apprenticeship. As a result, Lisa went deeper into the field of Cognitive Apprentice to determine how it can make us more efficien...

After five years of research working with over 180 organizations and interviewing 10,000 employees, Clint Pulver joins the show to share key findings on why mentorship and learning were key reasons why organizations retain their employees. This work was part of his "Undercover Millennial" research which led to his upcoming book "I Love it Here". Throughout the show, Clint shares his insights from...

Regardless of how important the topic is, are you compelled to learn something when someone else requires you to learn it? As learning professionals, we are faced with this challenge often. Should we make learning topics mandatory? Or should we avoid it entirely (minus the legal stuff) and focus on motivating? To help us discuss and debate this topic, special guest Michelle Buechler joins the show...

After Dana read “The Power of Teaching”, he wanted to reshine a light on why retrieval practice is such a critical strategy for learning. Dana shares new insights from the book and the guys discuss strategies on how to do it yourselves, how to teach it, and how to support your learners in your learning experiences. CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, co...

Rajiv Chandran, Managing Director for Global Leadership at Accenture joins the show to discuss how leadership development is changing because of the pandemic. Rajiv discusses leadership shifts during Covid, the new leadership skills needed going forward, and the impact to training and leadership development. CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect w...